The current airport is equipped to handle 22 million passengers annually. With the completion of the EK terminal Dubai International Airport will have the capacity to handle 70 million passengers a year. The new EK dedicated terminal should open later in the year, fully equipped to handle the A380's due to arrive in 2006. Source: http://www.dubaiairport.com/

The new Jebel Ali airport is being planned with 6 (yup - SIX) parallel runways. From the info I have on it, all cargo operations will have to move from DXB to the new Jebel Ali airport when it's operational (which is, guessing, probably anywhere from 3 - 6 years away). Construction starts in Feb.

Being on the outside looking in.....I would imagine the reason is one of positioning. Some day the Middle East will run out of oil; this project is a long term solution that addresses the future prosperity of the region when the fossil fuels run dry.

At one time, Dubai was a natural crossroads between Europe and Asia, longer range aircraft have the made once normal tech-stop in DXB unnecessary. This projekt elevates DXB beyond it's historical position of transit point, becoming a destination in it's own right. World population alone in this region will dictate something be done to handle the expected demand.

Warning......political commentary ahead!

Only when the standard of living is equalized between the first world and the second and third worlds, will we begin to see peace develop in the greater region. This project is one of immense opportunity for everyone, and Hope, is what the middle east needs most.

Congratulations to the Dubai powers-that-be for assuming the role of leadership in the region.....